The most significant free agents in baseball history

Spring training is in full swing, and it’s time for Robinson Cano, Shin-Soo Choo and a number of other big names to suit up for new teams. Free agent signings are the lifeblood of baseball’s offseason, helping fans stay engaged during the cold of winter.

With that in mind, the AP presents this list of the most significant free agent acquisitions in the history of each major league franchise — one entry per team. The definition of “significant” is subjective, of course, but these free agents were all memorable for one reason or another. Some were bargains, others were busts. Some signed record-setting contracts, and a few weren’t highly pursued at all.

There were only a couple ground rules for this exercise:

1. Each free agent featured was an established pro. In other words, teenagers signed out of obscurity didn’t count.

2. Only free agents who switched teams were eligible. We were looking for moves from one club to another — not players who signed big deals to stay in one place.

The list is presented chronologically, and it spans free agency’s entire history — from the mid-1970s all the way though this offseason: